• Principal Security AI Researcher

    Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)


    Security represents the most critical priorities for our customers in a world awash in digital threats, regulatory scrutiny, and estate complexity. Microsoft Security aspires to make the world a safer place for all. We want to reshape security and empower every user, customer, and developer with a security cloud that protects them with end to end, simplified solutions. The Microsoft Security organization accelerates Microsoft’s mission and bold ambitions to ensure that our company and industry is securing digital technology platforms, devices, and clouds in our customers’ heterogeneous environments, as well as ensuring the security of our own internal estate.

     

    The CISO organization is looking for a visionary Principal Security AI Researcher to join the CTO’s security research team. This principal-level position will apply AI techniques to detect, analyze, and prevent cyber attacks. We are looking to create mechanical advantage with new methods to uncover attacks. You will lead complex research initiatives, apply techiques to incidents to refine them, and collaborate across AI, engineering, data science, and threat intelligence teams to shape the future of cyber defense.

     

    Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

    Responsibilities

    + Invent and develop novel detection methods for identifyingcyber attacks.

    + Lead in-depth research projects on emerging attack vectors, tactics, and techniques used by advanced threat actors.

    + Apply the latest AI technologies to build agents to improve detection, reasoning, and mitigation of cyber attacks

    + Partner with threat hunters, redteam, and blueteam members on attack detection

    + Stay ahead of the curve by monitoring threat intelligence, security publications, and attacker trends.

    + Embody our culture and values

    Qualifications

    Required Qualifications

    + 7+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, modeling, cybersecurity, and/or anomaly detection

    + OR Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field.

    + 3+ years of hands-on experience in Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or other machine learning frameworks.

    + 2+ years of relevant industry experience driving cutting-edge research into real world impact.

    + 2+ years of experience applying LLMs (Large Language Models, generative and/or representative) towards successful product outcomes.

    Other Requirements:

    + Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

    + Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

    Preferred Qualifications

    + 8+ years experience in software development lifecycle, large-scale computing, modeling, cybersecurity, and/or anomaly detection

    + OR Doctorate in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field

    + Experience working with agentic frameworks such as AutoGen, CrewAI, Langchain, etc.

    + Experience building LLM workflows using cloud services such as HuggingFace, Azure, Google Cloud, AWS, etc.

    + Experience in safety and ethical aspects of AI.

    + Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to simplify and explain complex ideas.

    + Experience in working with large-scale datasets.

    + Experience in cyber security and safety domains, such as malware detection, fraud prevention, cyber-physical systems, adversary tradecraft, emerging threats or SOC operations.

     

    Security Research IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $180,400 - $294,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

     

    Microsoft will accept applications for the role until May 28, 2025.

     

    Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .